Indoor base-ball



(No Model.)

W. WINDOES. INDOOR BASE BALL.

No. 465,507. Patented Dec. 22, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM IVINDOES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INDOOR BASE-BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,507, dated December 22, 1891.

Application filed January Q, 1891- Serial No. 377,251. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,'WILLIAM Wm'DoEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi durability, it is necessary to make the seams C close and firm, and in doing this they become practically air-tight.

cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illiforate the cover of the ball freely, as shown nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indoor Base-Balls; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to base-balls int-ended for'indoor use; and it consists, essentially, of a perforated cover for such' a ball, the object being to prevent the destruction of the ball by the violent compression of the air incident to a heavy blow from the bat.

In the accompanying drawing the figure represents an elevation of my improved ball with a portion of the cover broken out.

It is found in practice that in the use of a soft ball there is great strain upon the seams, due to the compression of the air when the ball receives aheavy blow from the bat. The result is that in a very short time the stitches are torn out and the ball ruined.

My ball A is filled with curled hair B and covered with leather in the usual manner, the separate pieces of the cover being stitched together, as shown at C. In order to secure at D. cient size and number to permit the free'discharge of the compressed air and yet not of such size as to permit the internal material to escape.

In addition to the durability of the ball secured by the use of the perforated cover, the

ball becomes much less elastic. In the game of ball as played indoors this is an important feature, as the game is usually played in a comparatively small room and it is not desired that the ball should be driven any considerable distance by the bat.

I am aware that soft balls covered with leather have been made and are in common use in the game in question, and I do not broadly claim such a ball.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is- Y In a soft leather-covered ball, the combination, with the filling material,of a'perforated cover, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM XVINDOES.

\Vitnesses:

M. E. FERGUSON, W. J. HENDERSON.

These perforations should be of suffi- I therefore pere 

